Kisume Quest VI - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

> "Does that mean you'll be on the front lines?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Does that mean you'll be on the front lines?"

>"Would it matter either way, when you consider what I have said?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "It might. This whole thing is your vision, and it's being done on your orders. Seems like you should be putting your well-being on the line for it."

[Hello Purvis]

> "It might. This whole thing is your vision, and it's being done on your orders. Seems like you should be putting your well-being on the line for it."

>"It is my intention to be there," says the Emperor. 

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Raise an eyebrow.
> "Fighting and everything?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Raise an eyebrow.
> "Fighting and everything?"

>"Do you really think a leader and an infantryman have the same duties in a war?" says the Emperor. "I will direct the campaign, and fight when needs be."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

Well that whole bit takes the wind out of my sails. Either he's calling my bluff perfectly or he actually believes all this stuff.

I'll need to think about this for a while. I've really no clue now what could possibly convince him this isn't worth it. I don't even think killing him would solve anything.

[Hanzo K.]

Well, we could always bait him into chasing after us once everyone's in the dimension-hoppy-thingy, and then lead him right into it, and spirit him away with us so we can leave him in Eiki's hands for a good stiff lecture, and possible early judgement.

[Kilgamayan]

I suspect we'd have a hard time taunting him into anything.

> "I see..."
> Look back out the window.
> "...If I can ask a personal question...out of curiosity, do you have any kids?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "I see..."
> Look back out the window.
> "...If I can ask a personal question...out of curiosity, do you have any kids?"

>"No, I have no children of my own," he says.

>_

[O4rfish]

(when you're done with this) "Your world is a cold and bitter place. I want to go home."

[Kilgamayan]

I'll want to comb through this entire conversation again at least once before being done. Sorry for holding things up.

[Kilgamayan]

Mmmmmm...

I...might have an inkling of an idea, just from generically dwelling on why he's doing this. Might. I need to think on it some more and review a few of his details before I consider it worth trying.

[Kilgamayan]

The more I think about this the more I think it's worth a shot. I certainly can't think of anything else at present, anyway.

> "I see. Forget about that, then. I'm trying to piece all of this together, so I'd like to do some fact checking. You seem to behave as if your victory is a foregone conclusion, and looking at things, I can certainly understand why. I see nigh endless city out this window, and you talk of the countless people out there ready to fight for you. How much abouts do you think you outnumber Gensokyo's population by?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "I see. Forget about that, then. I'm trying to piece all of this together, so I'd like to do some fact checking. You seem to behave as if your victory is a foregone conclusion, and looking at things, I can certainly understand why. I see nigh endless city out this window, and you talk of the countless people out there ready to fight for you. How much abouts do you think you outnumber Gensokyo's population by?"

>"In total?" says the Emperor, "in raw numbers, easily several hundred times over, presuming every demon that can fight will fight. In terms of equipment, the comparison becomes significantly more difficult to make, but I am confident that we shall at least match whatever magic that can be conjured. Its grows a little more fuzzy north of the great river, we shall have to assess our positions and consider the case more carefully once we've reached that point, but I am confident that we will not be poor straits by that point."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "And you've been specifically scouting Gensokyo for this for a while. A few years, I'd guess?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "And you've been specifically scouting Gensokyo for this for a while. A few years, I'd guess?"

>"Not directly, but Verde's report is does not represent the sum of our knowledge," says the Emperor.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "But you're still much better off than the grand sum of zero knowledge Gensokyo has about Kosa. Outside of maybe the blue-haired traitor, anyway."

[Hello Purvis]

> "But you're still much better off than the grand sum of zero knowledge Gensokyo has about Kosa. Outside of maybe the blue-haired traitor, anyway."

>"Your point being?"says the Emperor.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Just going through the list of things. There's plenty of other stuff to consider. These translator devices give you access to their language while they won't know yours, so that's a communication advantage. Gensokyo's combat system is oriented more around style points, while I'd guess your army's top priority will be getting the job done as fast as possible. And you're right, not everyone in Gensokyo likes each other, so you'd be more unified than them. Can you think of anything else? I'm probably missing something."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Just going through the list of things. There's plenty of other stuff to consider. These translator devices give you access to their language while they won't know yours, so that's a communication advantage. Gensokyo's combat system is oriented more around style points, while I'd guess your army's top priority will be getting the job done as fast as possible. And you're right, not everyone in Gensokyo likes each other, so you'd be more unified than them. Can you think of anything else? I'm probably missing something."

>"A few factors," he says, "but for the time being, let us assume you have named everything."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Right. So you have a numbers advantage, a resources advantage, an information advantage, a tactical advantage, an informational advantage, an organizational advantage, a technological advantage, a communications advantage, the element of surprise, and a litany of other things. Given all that, who will actually be impressed by your victory?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Right. So you have a numbers advantage, a resources advantage, an information advantage, a tactical advantage, an informational advantage, an organizational advantage, a technological advantage, a communications advantage, the element of surprise, and a litany of other things. Given all that, who will actually be impressed by your victory?"

>"You seem to have forgotten what it means to stretch beyond the frontier of the known world, and make what you find yours," says the Emperor.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I haven't forgotten that. Rather, I think you've forgotten that breaking through the barrier isn't something you or your Empire did."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I haven't forgotten that. Rather, I think you've forgotten that breaking through the barrier isn't something you or your Empire did."

>"There is a difference in significance between a lone discredited professor finding something, and the seat of authority exploring and taking it," says the Emperor.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "And what might that difference be, that it nullifies the fact that you wouldn't have access to our world if she hadn't invented it before falling victim to a freak accident that kept her indisposed for several months?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "And what might that difference be, that it nullifies the fact that you wouldn't have access to our world if she hadn't invented it before falling victim to a freak accident that kept her indisposed for several months?"

>"And what if you had been born a human?" says the Emperor. "A hypothetical past means nothing."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Give a small smirk.
> "Your avoidance of the fact that your plan would be impossible without her work is noted."

[Hello Purvis]

> Give a small smirk.
> "Your avoidance of the fact that your plan would be impossible without her work is noted."

>"And your point, aside from hypothetical situations whose time of possibility has passed?"

>_

[O4rfish]

Kilga, it seems like you are saying "Your project that you have been working toward means nothing and should be abandoned." It also seems like you said this in several previous adventures, to no avail.